GB1472327A - Seedling planter apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1472327 Apparatus for planting seedlings CANADA NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER OF 18 June 1974 26956/74 Heading AID A planting apparatus 10 comprises a mobile frame 12 on which are mounted, about a pivot 22, a vertically swingable arm 23 and a vertically swingable sensing device 24, the arm 23 carrying a dibble 48 and a planter 50 with fingers 80 for gripping a seedling 90. In operation the arm 23 is moved downwardly by a cylinder 28 and the sensing device 24 descends simultaneously under gravity until a frame 114 which connects the sensing device 24 to the arm 23 moves upwardly in relation to the arm as a result of the dibble 48 reaching its maximum depth while keeping the sensing device 24 stationary on the surface 45, when the sensing device 24 activates an ejection member 84 to eject the seedling 90 into the cut earth. When the dibble 48 meets an obstacle (120) Figure 2 (not shown) the sensing device 24 is not activated since the dibble 48, in that case, does not reach its maximum depth. The apparatus 10 includes vertically swingable packing arms 26 carrying packing rollers 42 for packing the dug earth. The ejection step is initiated by full extension of a roller 95 of a valve 93 which activates a valve member 92 to slide the ejection member 84 along fingers 80 by arms 86, 87 until a pin 117 abuts a cam member 102 and rotates it anti-clockwisely to retract a roller 97 within the valve 94 for the return movement of the ejection members 84. At this point the apparatus may be modified such that the valve 93 is rendered inactive or the packing arms 26 are operated. A clearing means 126 having link members 128 is pivoted about 132 to clear the ground surface 45 of debris or dirt.